Mass. Gen. Laws » Part I Title XVII Chapter 118A
Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 118A, § 1 (2026)

Financial assistance program to elderly persons and persons with disabilities; state payments supplementary to federal benefits; eligibility, restriction; standard levels

✓ current as of July 2026
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Section 1. The department of transitional assistance, in this chapter called the department, shall administer a program of financial assistance for aged and disabled persons who reside within the commonwealth. Such assistance, which shall be called state supplementary payments, shall be based on need and granted in supplementation of benefits granted by the United States government to aged and disabled individuals, under the provisions of title XVI of the federal Social Security Act and amendments thereto, in this chapter called title XVI. Such assistance shall be granted to persons who, on account of age or disability, qualify for supplemental security income granted pursuant to title XVI and may, based on need, be granted to individuals who would, but for their income, be eligible for such supplemental security income.

The department shall establish, subject to the approval of the secretary of the executive office of human services, standard levels for state supplementary payments for the aged and disabled. Such payments may vary by category, by marital status, and by living arrangements to the extent allowed by title XVI and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

No assistance under this section shall be granted to an applicant who, at any time within two years immediately prior to the filing of an application for such assistance, has made an assignment or transfer or who has mortgaged or otherwise encumbered property so as to render himself eligible for such assistance.

No person receiving assistance under this section shall be prohibited from receiving benefits under the federal Food Stamp Act solely because of his status as a recipient of such assistance.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases, 1949–1994 · leading case: Bouchard v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 583 F. Supp. 944 (D. Mass. 1984).
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Bouchard v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 583 F. Supp. 944 (D. Mass. 1984). “M.G.L. c. 118A, §§ 1 and 3. Accordingly, the Commonwealth entered into a requisite Federal-State Agreement, Tr.”
Morales v. Minter, 393 F. Supp. 88 (D. Mass. 1975). “They have subsequently been replaced in office by Mr. Jerald Stephens and Ms.”
Kraft v. Comm'r of Pub. Welfare, 496 N.E.2d 1379 (Mass. 1986). “shall enter into an agreement with the Secretary of the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare, under which the Secretary shall, on behalf of the commonwealth, administer the program of state supplementary payments authorized by [G. L. c. 118A, § 1].” Pursuant…”
Opinion of the Justices to the Senate, 643 N.E.2d 1036 (Mass. 1994). “While the Department of Public Welfare administers the State SSI program, G. L. c. 118A, § 1 (1992 ed.), item 4405-2000 only funds the program, not the department generally.”
Massachusetts Gen. Hosp. v. Comm'r of Pub. Welfare, 216 N.E.2d 434 (Mass. 1966). “See G. L. c. 118A, § 1 (as amended through St.”
Opinion of the Justices to the Governor, 384 Mass. 840 (Mass. 1981). “18, § 2 (charging the Department of Public Welfare with the responsibility of providing and administering “a comprehensive public welfare financial assistance program” and formulating “the policies, procedures and rules necessary for the full and efficient implementation of…”
Attorney Gen. v. Bureau of Old Age Assistance of Cambridge, 84 N.E.2d 536 (Mass. 1949). “The judge properly denied the requests of the respondents for rulings that “As a matter of law the writ of mandamus should not issue,” that “Lewis Parmenter is not a deserving citizen within the meaning of G. L. c. 118A, § 1,” and that “In purporting to order the respondents to…”
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